S. Vearncombe et al., 3.26 GA BLACK SMOKER-TYPE MINERALIZATION IN THE STRELLEY BELT, PILBARA-CRATON, WESTERN-AUSTRALIA, Journal of the Geological Society, 152, 1995, pp. 587-590
Early Archaean (3.26 Ga) volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits
located within the low strain and very-low metamorphic grade Strelley
greenstone belt, East Pilbara, Western Australia, contain exceptionall
y well-preserved sulphide textures which are directly analogous to tho
se formed in black smoker chimneys at present-day submarine hydrotherm
al vents. The VMS deposits are associated with seafloor alteration zon
es in and below silica-carbonate laminites, at the top of a pile of th
oleiitic to calc alkaline intermediate and element abundances indicati
ve processes. VMS mineralization comprises Zn-rich sulphide lenses wit
h significant Cu and barite, and variable Ph and Ag, above Cu-rich str
inger zones, all of which are similar to Phanerozoic VMS deposits. Sul
phide-sulphate mineralization implicates hydrothermal discharge into s
ulphate-bearing ocean waters.